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Gen Z content creator challenges old guard with long-shot run for Congress
TUCSON - Deja Foxx propped her iPhone on a small vase on her windowsill, picked up a campaign flier and pressed record.
“I’m 25 years old, and I’m running for Congress,” she said, smiling and leaning toward the screen. A few moments later, she did another take: “If elected, I’d be the first woman of my generation, Gen Z, in the body.” Then, another one, after adjusting the angle: “Redo, hate that.”
Foxx filmed 66 videos during two hours of “content time” one afternoon in May in search of the perfect clip to ask her more than half a million social media followers to donate to her long-shot campaign for the Democratic nomination in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District. The mid-July special-election primary is an early test case of a broader question in the party: Can a new generation of influencers and content creators tasked with helping other Democrats reach younger voters run winning campaigns of their own?
The campaign has been an uphill climb for Foxx, whose digital footprint exceeds her presence on the ground, where traditional tactics such as endorsements and TV advertisements still matter. Former Pima County supervisor Adelita Grijalva, 54, is seen as the heavy favorite to win the safely Democratic seat that her father, the liberal stalwart Raúl Grijalva, held until his death in March. Many Arizona Democrats who previously tapped Foxx to help them reach young audiences have lined up behind Grijalva, along with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York).
The race has shown some of the challenges political content creators - who are also running for Congress in Illinois and Texas - could face as they try to turn influencing into influence. Translating online enthusiasm into votes has been difficult; a canvassing event Foxx held last month drew a much smaller crowd than one Grijalva held the same weekend.
“I’m 25 years old, and I’m running for Congress,” she said, smiling and leaning toward the screen. A few moments later, she did another take: “If elected, I’d be the first woman of my generation, Gen Z, in the body.” Then, another one, after adjusting the angle: “Redo, hate that.”
Foxx filmed 66 videos during two hours of “content time” one afternoon in May in search of the perfect clip to ask her more than half a million social media followers to donate to her long-shot campaign for the Democratic nomination in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District. The mid-July special-election primary is an early test case of a broader question in the party: Can a new generation of influencers and content creators tasked with helping other Democrats reach younger voters run winning campaigns of their own?
The campaign has been an uphill climb for Foxx, whose digital footprint exceeds her presence on the ground, where traditional tactics such as endorsements and TV advertisements still matter. Former Pima County supervisor Adelita Grijalva, 54, is seen as the heavy favorite to win the safely Democratic seat that her father, the liberal stalwart Raúl Grijalva, held until his death in March. Many Arizona Democrats who previously tapped Foxx to help them reach young audiences have lined up behind Grijalva, along with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York).
The race has shown some of the challenges political content creators - who are also running for Congress in Illinois and Texas - could face as they try to turn influencing into influence. Translating online enthusiasm into votes has been difficult; a canvassing event Foxx held last month drew a much smaller crowd than one Grijalva held the same weekend.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/gen-z-content-creator-challenges-162907688.html
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